Method and apparatus for accessing data

Abstract

The present invention relates to accessing data on computer networks, and more particularly to accessing such data via remote terminals. The present invention provides that unsolicited information is received via a first communications network on a communications device. Based on that information, the user can request further information via a second communications network.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of accessing information on a computer network on a communication device, the device being capable of communicating with a first communications network and receiving a signal from a second communications network, the method comprising: 
 receiving, via the second network, unsolicited information from the computer network, wherein the information contains an identifier identifying further information on the computer network;    requesting, via the first network, further information from the computer network, wherein the further information is based on the received identifier; and    receiving the further information via one of the first or second networks.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second communications network is a broadcast network, and wherein the step of receiving via the second network is adapted for receiving via the broadcast network.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the first communications network is a telecommunications network, and wherein the step of receiving the further information is adapted for receiving the further information via the telecommunications network.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the step of receiving the further information is adapted for receiving the further information via the broadcast network.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein the unsolicited information contains a content identifier, further comprising storing, on the device, a list of content identifiers of interest.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising filtering the received unsolicited information to remove any information not having a content identifier in the list of content identifiers.  
     
     
         7 . The method of any preceding claim, wherein the second communication network is digital video broadcast terrestrial (DVB-T) network, and wherein the steps of receiving via the second network are adapted for receiving via the DVB-T network.  
     
     
         8 . The method of any preceding claims, wherein the first communication network is a cellular network, and wherein the step of receiving via the further information is adapted to receive via the cellular network.  
     
     
         9 . A communication device for accessing information on a computer network, the device capable of communicating with a first communications network and receiving a signal from a second communications network, the device comprising: 
 a receiver for receiving, via the second network, unsolicited information from the computer network, wherein the information contains an identifier identifying further information on the computer network;    a transceiver for requesting, via the first network, further information from the computer network, wherein the further information is based on the received identifier.    
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein transceiver is adapted to receive the further information via the first network.  
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the receiver is adapted to receive the further information via the second network.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 9 ,  10  or  11 , wherein the second communications network is a broadcast network, and wherein the receiver is adapted to receive the unsolicited information via the broadcast network.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 9 ,  10 ,  11  or  12 , wherein the first communication network is a telecommunications network, and wherein the transceiver is adapted for use with the telecommunications network.  
     
     
         14 . The device of any of  claims 9  to  13  wherein the unsolicited information contains a content identifier, and further comprising a memory for storing, on the device, a list of content identifiers of interest.  
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , further comprising a filter for filtering the received unsolicited information to remove any information not having a content identifier in the list of content identifiers.  
     
     
         16 . The device of any of  claims 9  to  15 , wherein the second communication network is digital video broadcast terrestrial (DVB-T) network, and wherein the receiver is adapted to receive via the DVB-T network.  
     
     
         17 . The device of any of  claims 9  to  16 , wherein the first communication network is a cellular network, and wherein the transceiver is adapted for use with the cellular network.  
     
     
         18 . The device of any of  claims 9  to  17 , wherein the communication device is a portable communication device.  
     
     
         19 . A system for accessing information on a computer network using a device as claimed in any one of  claims 9  to  18   
     
     
         20 . The system of any of  claims 9  to  19 , further comprising a database of user profiles for storing a list of information categories determined to be of interest to the users.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , further comprising a broadcast transmitter for transmitting information from the computer network to users determined to be interested in the information.  
     
     
         22 . A method of distributing information using the system of any of  claims 19  to  21 .  
     
     
         23 . A method of distributing information for use with the device of any of  claims 9  to  18 .  
     
     
         24 . A method of accessing information on a computer network on a portable communication device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
     
     
         25 . A communication device for accessing information on a computer network substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
     
     
         26 . A system for accessing information on a computer network substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.